You'll be using one of the fastest pistol powders on the market in a large bore, large case, high-pressure magnum round. It can be done, but you should know going in what you are getting with a load like this.

Using a FAST powder in something like .44 Mag gives you:
--less bullet velocity than you'd expect out of a .44 Magnum load
--ALL the same maximum pressure

You have much, much more risk of an unintended overload when using a fast powder in this round.

Yes, you can do it. The best use of a FAST powder in a round like this is when you wish to make a light load...one that doesn't run a "magnum" velocity and doesn't give the full, heavy recoil of a proper round.

If you have any hopes of making full-power .44 Magnum, you need to find a better powder for the job. If you attempt to run HP-38 hot in .44 Mag, you can blow up a handgun easily.

__________________Attention Brass rats and other reloaders: I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

Thanks everyone..loading this for my cousin who has a Henry Big Boy lever action rifle in 44mag. he had already bought the powder,bullets and brass and i am goin to load them for him. the bullets are hunter supply 300Gn swc.

Lead bullets give less pressure per load than jacketed bullets of the same weight do, so the max load for the XTP should be safe with a cast bullet of the same 300 grains weight. BUT ONLY IN THE SAME TEST GUN!

As with any reloading, begin with the starting (8 grain) load and work up slowly, looking for pressure signs, and also bore leading. If your bullet is not a gas-check design, you may only be able to go to moderate velocities without severe leading, depending on bullet to bore fit. Under no circumstance exceed the 10 grain max load.

In working up, whenever you find a load that is accurate enough for your needs or expectations, stop there. A few extra feet per second is pretty meaningless with a large, heavy slug like the 300 grain 44.

Hodgdon's web site shows a velocity range of 966 to 1149, same bullet. HP38 is fast, but not as fast as Titegroup, and I really like 8.0 grains of Titegroup under a 225 LSWC for a target load. You can shoot lighter bullets and save some money on lead.

If I were you, I would suggest to you cousin a change of power or bullet. The provided powder and bullet just don't play well together.
I'm sure that a working load couldn't be had, but it is not going to be even close to being what I would want and expect from the round or rifle.

I load a powder-puff 240gr LSW using 231 (same as HP-38). My 6 and 8 year old grand daughters like to shoot it a pistol. But, you have 300gr bullets, I think they are jacketed.

H110/296 has what I view as a small window of charge for pressure. LitGun could be an alternative. 2400 would be my first choice with those 300s. But, you have HP-38 powder....

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